Indicating device

ABSTRACT

A resettable character indicating device is of the type, for example, usable in an automobile for recording mileage at a given time. A disclosed embodiment contains three windows or apertures for indicating the unit, tens and hundreds digits of mileage. The device is made from a single sheet of cardboard or the like which is punched at predetermined locations with apertures or holes for receiving an axle bearing member and character bearing discs. Certain of the apertures are located to provide windows for display of the characters on the discs while other apertures are located to allow extension of an edge of the disc therethrough when the sheet is carefully folded along prepositioned fold lines.

United States Patent 11 1 Cornelius 14 1 Jan. 9, 1973 s41 INDICATINGDEVICE 3,493,172 2/1970 Bromage ..23s/114 t V' W l [76] Inven orT1ecXto;64 2g and Cornelius, Eastland, Primary Examiner Robert w.Michell Assistant Examiner-J. H. Wolff [22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1970Attorney-Richards, Harris & Hubbard [21] Appl. No.2 72,916 ABSTRACT US.Cl ..40/70 A resettable character indicating device is of the type,

2% I t Cl com 1 for example, usable in an automobile for recording -l ege a a gi A disclosed embodiment 1 led of Search tains three windows orapertures for indicating the 40/1241; 116/133; 235/88 H4 unit, tens andhundreds digits of mileage. The device is made from a single sheet ofcardboard or the like [56] References which is punched at predeterminedlocations with apertures or holes for receiving an axle bearing UNITEDSTA rES PATENTS member and character bearing discs. Certain of the2,493,134 1/1950 Gruden ..40/l09 apertures are located to providewindows for display 2,016,445 10/1935 of the characters on the discswhile other apertures 1,500,407 7/1924 are located to allow extension ofan edge of the disc 2,755,576 7/1956 therethrough when the sheet iscarefully folded along 2,839,860 6/1958 prepositioned fold lines.3,079,7l5 3/1963 1,075,859 10/1913 Rosewater 40/70 6 Claims, 6 DrawingFigures I l l 48 5O 52 PATENTEDJMI 9 I975 DESTINATIQN FIG. 3

FIG. 5

INVENTORZ /58 FIG. 6

AT TOHNL YS VICTOR W CORNELIUS I INDICATING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to character display devices and moreparticularly to a simple, convenient article of manufacture resulting ina character display register.

Devices of the general type disclosed herein are well known in the art.Several patents disclosing devices of lesser and greater complexity areavailable. For example, U. S. Pat. No. 258,897 discloses a characterregister to be used in conjunction with a calendar. U. S. Pat. No.1,075,859 discloses an apertured member holding larger discs to be usedas a game counter. Additionally, U. S. Pat. No. 1,918,631 discloses asingle disc time table character register for determining arrival timeof a train upon knowledge of its departure time from a given location.Other more complex character registers are disclosed in U. S. Pats. Nos.3,016,641, 3,030,016, 3,365,818 and 3,493,172. However, all of thedevices disclosed in the latter patents are rather complex and do notlend themselves to the novelty or advertising type character registers.They all require complicated manufacturing methods and comparativelysophisticated components, including gear trains and the like.

In contrast, it is desirable to have an easily manufacturable characterregister which can be mass produced. It is desirable for such an item tohave as few manufacturing steps as possible while maintaining a certainappearance of quality and precision. It is further desirable to utilizeas few a number of parts as possible in manufacturing such a device,thus further eliminating unnecessary cost items.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, therefore, provides asimple and economic character register device comprising an elongatedsheet member, the sheet member having fold lines transverse thereof andspaced at predetermined locations from each other and from the ends ofthe sheet member, the sheet member capable of being folded along saidfold lines in an accordian manner in order to form a layered structure,the sheet member divided into first, second and third portions by thefold lines, the first portion associated with axle means for receivingat least one character disc, and character discs mounted on said axlemeans, the second portion adjacent the first portion having aperturemeans therein for exposing a character on a character disc at apredetermined position when the second portion is folded back upon thefirst portion, the second portion having an elongated aperture thereinthrough which an edge of the character disc is capable of extending whenthe third portion is folded back upon the second portion, the thirdportion adjacent the second portion having aperture means thereincorresponding to the aperture means in the second portion when the thirdportion is folded back upon the second portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A better understanding of theinvention can be derived by reading the ensuing specification inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of the sheet member of the present invention afterthe various apertures have been punched therein;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device of the present invention after theaxle means and character discs have been positioned on the sheet member;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the device as it appears in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the device of FIGS. 2 and 3 showingit partially folded;

FIG. 5 is a side view of an axle carrying member; and

FIG. 6 is a front view of the fully assembled device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The following description is inrelation to a preferred embodiment having a three character register. Aswill be readily understood after reading the ensuing specification, manyalterations and variations can be made without departing from theoriginal intent of the present invention. The invention disclosed hereinis to be limited only by the definition of the appended claims.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a sheet of cellulosic composition material orlike material, for example cardboard, is illustrated. The sheet member10 can be punched as shown or can be prepared in multiples side by side,for example, five or six of the sheet members can be simultaneouslypunched, and thereafter cut along the edges 12 to form a single member.The sheet member 10 in blank can be composed of, for example a topsurface layer of a vinyl material and a bottom surface layer ofsemi-rigid cardboard material to which the upper decorative layer, suchas vinyl, is adhesively secured. Of course, it is to be understood thatonly a single layer of cardboard can be utilized if desired; however, avinyl top layer will provide a much more attractive device.

The sheet member 10 is subjected to a cutting or punching process byappropriately configured die which places score lines at predeterminedpositions on the sheet member in addition to punching the apertures inthe sheet member as shown. In the preferred embodiment, three scorelines l4, l6, and 18 are placed on the elongated rectangular sheetmember. The score lines are partial cuts through the vinyl and cardboardlayers to facilitate folding of the sheet member 10 at the desiredlocations. The score lines in the preferred embodiment divide the sheetmember 10 into first, second, third and fourth sections or portions 20,22, 24, and 26, respectively. The punching step further places anaperture 28 in the first portion 20 of predetermined size to accept anaxle carrying member, shown in detail in FIG. 5. Aperture 30 ispositioned in the second portion 22 of the sheet member 10. One edge 32of the aperture 30 coincides with the score line 16. Aperture 30 isprovided for the edges of the character discs to extend through as thesheet member is folded.

Referring briefly to FIG. 5, a side elevation view of the axle carryingmember is shown. A base portion 34 has located thereon a plurality ofaxles 36. Of course, it is to be understood that any number of axlesfrom one to a plurality can be mounted on the base portion 34.Preferably base portion 34 is a unitary molded synthetic polymericmaterial, such as polyethylene or nylon. The base portion 34 of the axlecarrying member is inserted into aperture 28 with the axles thereofextending upwardly from the face of the sheet member 10. The axlecarrying base member 34 is secured in the aperture 28 by an adhesivetape member 38 placed across the rear side of the sheet member (bestshown in FIG. 3).

Character discs 40, 42, and 44 are rotatably positioned on the axles 36.The lower edges of the character discs 40, 42, and 44 extend across thescore line 16 and above the aperture 30 in the second portion 22 of thesheet member 10. Aperture 46 is provided in portion 22 so that when theportion 22 is folded back against the portion 20, the axle members willextend into but preferably not completely through the aperture 46 toassist holding the character discs on the axles. Additionally, a tensionstrip 47 is placed across the character discs 40, 42, and 44 andadhesively secured at its ends to the top surface of portion 20. Tensionstrip 47 further aids in positioning and holding the character discs onthe axles 36. Apertures 48, 50, and 52 are provided in portion 22 tocorrespond to character locations on character discs 40, 42, and 44respectively when the second portion 22 is folded back upon the firstportion 20. Apertures 54, 56, and 58 in the third portion 24 correspondand register with the apertures 48, 50, and 52 when the third portion 24is folded downwardly and back upon second portion 22, thus revealingcharacters through the apertures or windows 54, 56, and 58.

Referring now jointly to FIGS. 1 through 4, the manner of assembly ofthe character register device of the present invention will bediscussed. Double backed adhesive strips are positioned at variouslocations on the surfaces of the four portions of the sheet member 10 sothat when the sheet member 10 is folded in an accordian manner in thedirection of arrows 60 (FIG. 4) the four portions 20, 22, 24, and 26will adhere to each other forming a unitary character indicating device.Preferably double backed adhesive strips are utilized. These strips areof the type wherein adhesive is applied to both sides of a tape and atleast one side of which is provided with a protective backing. A firstsuch adhesive strip 38 is applied to the rear side of portion 22 toretain the axle carrying base member 34 in aperture 28. The protectivesheet (not shown) is then removed so that when portion 26 is folded intocontact with portion 20 it will be adhesively secured thereto.Similarly, a double sided adhesive strip 62 is applied to the topsurface of portion 22 so that portions 20 and 22 can be adhesivelybonded when folded upon each other. Likewise, a double sided adhesivestrip 64 is applied to the bottom surface of portion 22 so that whenfront or third portion 24 is positioned against the back of portion 22it will be adhesivcly bonded thereto. After the same manner, an adhesivestrip 66 can be applied to the back of fourth portion 26. However, inthis situation the protective backing 68 is left on the strip until itis desired to position the device, for example, on an automobile sunvisor or the like. At that time, the protective backing 68 is removedand the indicating device positioned against the visor.

Optionally, an ordinary paper staple can be utilized to additionallysecure portions 20 and 22 together. In this instance, the staple wouldbe inserted at a position corresponding to the arrow and dotted line 69.When such a staple is utilized, however, a curl results which in thisinstance would be positioned on the back side of portion 20 at location70. Aperture 72 is provided to face ;of the portion 24. The printed.matter can be placed on the character register device either prior to orafter cutting the apertures and score lines in the sheet member 10. Asthe character discs 40, 42, and 44 are rotated, for example by movingwith a thumb, different characters as desired will appear in theapertures 54, 56, and 58 in the front portion 24.

As can be readily seen, many alterations and variations of the presentdevice can be manufactured without departing from the essence of theinvention. The invention, therefore, is limited only by the appendedclaims wherein What is claimed is:

1. An indicating device comprising:

an elongated sheet member having a transverse fold line thereacrossdividing said sheet into first and second portions, said first andsecond portions being approximately the same size and adapted when saidsheet is folded along said transverse fold to form a layered structurewith said second portion overlying said first portion,

character-disk mounting means including an elongated base member havinga plurality of integral axles spaced from each other longitudinallyalong said base member,

said first portion of said sheet defining an elongated receiving slottherein,

means for securing said base member in said receiving slot with saidaxles extending upwardly from the surface of said first portion,

a plurality of character disks each rotatively and removeably mounted onone of said axles and having a peripheral section adapted for manualactuation,

an elongated aperture in said sheet adjacent said fold line andpositioned to receive the peripheral sections of said character diskstherethrough when said sheet is formed in said layered structure,

said second portion of said sheet having a plurality of viewingapertures therein each positioned to expose a character on one of saidcharacter disks when said sheet is formed in said layered structure, and

means independent of said axles for securing said sheet in saidlayered-structure form.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said character disk base member issecured in said receiving slot by an adhesive backed tape applied oversaid receiving slot to the side of said first portion remote from saidsecond portion when said sheet is formed in a layered structure.

3. The device of claim .2 further including a flexible member appliedacross said device over said first portion to hold said disks on saidaxles.

4. The device of claim 3 further including a third portion of said sheetfoldably attached to said second portion in said layered structure andadapted to further strengthen said device.

6. The device of claim 5 including means for securing said device in aposition of use comprising double backed adhesive affixed on the exposedside of said fourth portion when said device is formed in said layeredstructure.

1. An indicating device comprising: an elongated sheet member having a transverse fold line thereacross dividing said sheet into first and second portions, said first and second portions being approximately the same size and adapted when said sheet is folded along said transverse fold to form a layered structure with said second portion overlying said first portion, character-disk mounting means including an elongated base member having a plurality of integral axles spaced from each other longitudinally along said base member, said first portion of said sheet defining an elongated receiving slot therein, means for securing said base member in said receiving slot with said axles extending upwardly from the surface of said first portion, a plurality of character disks each rotatively and removeably mounted on one of said axles and having a peripheral section adapted for manual actuation, an elongated aperture in said sheet adjacent said fold line and positioned to receive the peripheral sections of said character disks therethrough when said sheet is formed in said layered structure, said second portion of said sheet having a plurality of viewing apertures therein each positioned to expose a character on one of said character disks when said sheet is formed in said layered structure, and means independent of said axles for securing said sheet in said layered-structure form.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein said character disk base member is secured in said receiving slot by an adhesive backed tape applied over said receiving slot to the side of said first portion remote from said second portion when said sheet is formed in a layered structure.
 3. The device of claim 2 further including a flexible member applied across said device over said first portion to hold said disks on said axles.
 4. The device of claim 3 further including a third portion of said sheet foldably attached to said second portion and having a plurality of apertures therein corresponding to said apertures in said second portion wherein said third portion is adapted to overlay said second portion in said layered structure to strengthen said device and to provide a finished surface on said device.
 5. The device of claim 4 further including a fourth portion foldably attached to said first portion wherein said fourth portion is adapted to overlay said first portion in said layered structure and adapted to further strengthen said device.
 6. The device of claim 5 including means for securing said device in a position of use comprising double backed adhesive affixed on the exposed side of said fourth portion when said device is formed in said layered structure. 